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How California’s Most Destructive Wildfire Spread, Hour by Hour

OCT. 21, 2017

SANTA ROSA, Calif. ­— An analysis by The New York Times of satellite images, combined with on-the-ground surveys, provides a more complete picture of the origin, spread and devastation of the fire that killed at least 22 people in and around the city.

The Tubbs fire destroyed at least 5,200 homes and structures, shown on the map below, making it the most destructive wildfire in state history, as well as one of the deadliest. The Times analysis also shows how quickly the fire spread in the crucial initial hours.

Extent of the Tubbs fire

on Oct. 10

N

Location

of fire

San

Francisco

CALIFORNIA

Los

Angeles

SHOWN ON MAP

The Tubbs fire started

on Oct. 8 around

Destroyed structures

visible in satellite imagery

9:43 p.m.

Deaths

128

Approximate edge of fire at

10:30 p.m.

TO CALISTOGA

11 p.m.

At 10:52 p.m., firefighters called for a mandatory evacuation of all of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road.

Michael Dornbach, 57, died while visiting family and friends in the area.

At 11:58 p.m., firefighters called for an evacuation of the entire area between Calistoga and Santa Rosa.

HALF MILE

12 a.m.

1 a.m.

Monte Kirven, 81, died at home.

At 1:12 a.m.,firefighters warned that the fire would reach eastern Santa Rosa within an hour.

Veronica McCombs, 67, died at home.

Lynne Powell, 72, died while fleeing her home.

Carmen Berriz, 75, died in a backyard pool in the arms of her husband, who survived.

2 a.m.

Sharon Robinson, 79, died at home.

Mike Grabow, 40, died at home.

3 a.m.

Arthur Grant, 95, and Suiko Grant, 75, died in their wine cellar.

Christina Hanson, 27, who used a wheelchair, died at home.

CITY LIMITS

FOUNTAINGROVE

Donna Halbur, 80, died in her garage. Leroy Halbur, 80, died on the driveway.

LARKFIELD-WIKIUP

Carmen McReynolds, 82, died in her garage.

101

Valerie Evans, 75, died while trying to save her dogs.

Carol Collins-Swasey, 76, died in her house.

Marilyn Ress, 71, died in her bedroom.

Linda Tunis, 69, died in her home in a mobile-home community.

Karen Aycock, 56, died in her bathroom.

101

COFFEY

PARK

60 MILES TO

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

Extent of the Tubbs fire

on Oct. 10

N

Location

of fire

San

Francisco

CALIFORNIA

Los

Angeles

The Tubbs fire started

on Oct. 8 around

SHOWN ON MAP

Destroyed structures

visible in satellite imagery

9:43 p.m.

Deaths

128

Approximate edge of fire at

10:30 p.m.

TO CALISTOGA

At 10:52 p.m., firefighters called for a mandatory evacuation of all of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road.

11 p.m.

At 11:58 p.m., firefighters called for an evacuation of the entire area between Calistoga and Santa Rosa.

HALF MILE

12 a.m.

1 a.m.

Deaths

At 1:12 a.m.,firefighters warned that the fire would reach eastern Santa Rosa within an hour.

2 a.m.

3 a.m.

CITY LIMITS

FOUNTAINGROVE

LARKFIELD-WIKIUP

101

101

COFFEY

PARK

60 MILES TO

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

Extent of the Tubbs fire

on Oct. 10

Location

of fire

N

San

Francisco

CALIFORNIA

Los

Angeles

The Tubbs fire started

on Oct. 8 around

SHOWN ON MAP

9:43 p.m.

Destroyed structures

visible in satellite imagery

Deaths

128

Approximate edge of fire at

10:30 p.m.

TO

CALISTOGA

11 p.m.

At 11:58 p.m., firefighters called for an evacuation of the entire area between Calistoga and Santa Rosa.

HALF MILE

12 a.m.

1 a.m.

Deaths

At 1:12 a.m.,firefighters warned that the fire would reach eastern Santa Rosa within an hour.

2 a.m.

3 a.m.

CITY LIMITS

FOUNTAINGROVE

LARKFIELD

-WIKIUP

101

101

COFFEY

PARK

60 MILES TO

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

Extent of Tubbs fire

on Oct. 10

N

Location

of fire

San

Francisco

CALIFORNIA

The fire started

on Oct. 8 around

SHOWN ON MAP

9:43 p.m.

Destroyed structures

visible in satellite

imagery

Approximate

edge of fire at

Deaths

10:30 p.m.

11 p.m.

12 a.m.

HALF MILE

1 a.m.

Deaths

2 a.m.

3 a.m.

CITY LIMITS

FOUNTAINGROVE

LARKFIELD

-WIKIUP

101

101

COFFEY

PARK

60 MILES TO

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

Extent of the Tubbs fire

on Oct. 10

N

Location

of fire

San

Francisco

CALIFORNIA

Los

Angeles

SHOWN ON MAP

Destroyed structures

visible in satellite imagery

The Tubbs fire started

on Oct. 8 around

9:43 p.m.

Deaths

Approximate edge of fire at

TO CALISTOGA

10:30 p.m.

11 p.m.

At 10:52 p.m., firefighters called for a mandatory evacuation of all of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road.

Michael Dornbach, 57, died while visiting family and friends in the area.

At 11:58 p.m., firefighters called for an evacuation of the entire area between Calistoga and Santa Rosa.

HALF MILE

12 a.m.

1 a.m.

Monte Kirven, 81, died at home.

At 1:12 a.m.,firefighters warned that the fire would reach eastern Santa Rosa within an hour.

Veronica McCombs, 67, died at home.

Carmen Berriz, 75, died in a backyard pool in the arms of her husband, who survived.

Lynne Powell, 72, died while fleeing her home.

2 a.m.

Sharon Robinson, 79, died at home.

Mike Grabow, 40, died at home.

3 a.m.

Arthur Grant, 95, and Suiko Grant, 75, died in their wine cellar.

Christina Hanson, 27, who used a wheelchair, died at home.

CITY LIMITS

FOUNTAINGROVE

Donna Halbur, 80, died in her garage. Leroy Halbur, 80, died on the driveway.

LARKFIELD-WIKIUP

Carmen McReynolds, 82, died in her garage.

101

Valerie Evans, 75, died while trying to save her dogs.

Carol Collins-Swasey, 76, died in her house.

Marilyn Ress, 71, died in her bedroom.

Linda Tunis, 69, died in her home in a mobile-home community.

Karen Aycock, 56, died in her bathroom.

101

COFFEY

PARK

60 MILES TO

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

The fire was pushed downhill at unusually high speeds by winds that sometimes exceeded 50 miles per hour. Burning embers were blown ahead of the main front, leaping ahead and igniting new fires.

In about three hours, the fire reached Santa Rosa, causing a chaotic scramble among authorities and unprepared residents.

One resident said that by the time the first emergency alert came, the flames were already marching toward his house, leaving just minutes to escape. As their city became engulfed in flames, many residents frantically fled their homes. But some people were unable to escape, and in many cases, their remains have been recovered inside or near their homes.

The victims who have been publicly identified include:

Karen Aycock, 56, died in her bathroom.

Carmen Berriz, 75, died in a backyard pool in the arms of her husband, who survived.

Carol Collins-Swasey, 76, died in her house.

Michael Dornbach, 57, died while visiting family and friends in the area.

Valerie Evans, 75, died while trying to save her dogs.

Mike Grabow, 40, died at home.

Arthur Grant, 95, and Suiko Grant, 75, died in their wine cellar.

Donna Halbur, 80, died in her garage. Leroy Halbur, 80, died on the driveway.